Quick answer
To import a car to Cyprus you clear it through Customs and then register it with the Road Transport Department. A used car brought from another EU country normally pays no import duty or VAT, while a car from the UK or another non-EU country pays 10% import duty and 19% VAT unless you qualify for transfer-of-residence relief. Cyprus has charged no excise duty on cars since March 2019.
- Cars from outside the EU, including the UK, pay 10% import duty plus 19% VAT on the customs value.
- Transfer-of-residence relief can remove duty and VAT if you owned and used the car for at least six months.
- Used cars moving from another EU country normally pay no duty or VAT in Cyprus.
- No excise duty has applied to cars imported into Cyprus since 22 March 2019.
- After customs, the car must be registered with the RTD before you can pay road tax.
Bringing your own car to Cyprus can make sense, but the cost depends on where it comes from and whether you qualify for relief. Here is how duty, VAT and registration work in 2026.
Who does this apply to?
This guide is for people moving to the Republic of Cyprus who want to bring a private car with them, or buy one abroad and register it here. Cyprus drives on the left, so right-hand-drive cars from the UK are common on the island.
Before you ship anything, note two points. First, you cannot import a vehicle into the Republic through the north of the island; the authorities may seize it. Second, the Customs and Excise Department notes that the Road Transport Department (RTD) restricts the registration of some vehicles imported from outside the EU, so check with the RTD that your car can be registered before you pay for shipping.
How much duty and VAT will you pay?
Cyprus abolished excise duty on motor vehicles on 22 March 2019, so the charges at import are customs duty and VAT. As of 2026 the position is:
| Where the car comes from | Import duty | VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Another EU country, used car | None (with proof of EU status) | None |
| Another EU country, new car | None | 19% |
| UK or other non-EU country | 10% of the customs value | 19% of customs value plus duty |
| Non-EU, with transfer-of-residence relief | None | None |
The customs value is broadly the price paid plus shipping and insurance to Cyprus. For example, on a car with a customs value of €15,000 from outside the EU, duty would be €1,500 and VAT 19% of €16,500, or €3,135.
A car of genuine UK origin may qualify for zero duty under the EU–UK trade agreement if its origin can be proven, but VAT still applies. Many cars sold in the UK are built elsewhere, so do not assume this applies.
When is a car "new" for VAT?
For cars arriving from other EU countries, a car counts as used only if more than six months have passed since its first registration and it has travelled more than 6,000 km. If either condition is not met, it is treated as new and 19% Cyprus VAT applies.
Do you qualify for transfer-of-residence relief?
If you are moving your normal residence to Cyprus from outside the EU, including from the UK, you can import one vehicle per person free of import duty and VAT if you meet these conditions:
- You lived outside the EU for at least 12 consecutive months before the move.
- You owned and used the car at your former residence for at least six months before leaving.
- You import it no earlier than six months before and no later than 12 months after transferring your residence.
- You hold a valid driving licence.
- You do not sell, lend, pledge, hire out or transfer the car for 12 months after clearance without the Director of Customs' approval.
You apply using Customs form ΑΠ.2 at any Customs office, with proof of your previous residence, the car's registration document, insurance certificate, purchase invoice and shipping documents.
Moving from another EU country is simpler: a used car in free circulation in the EU normally pays nothing at import, provided you can prove its EU status.
How do you import and register the car?
Step 1: Ship the car and keep the paperwork
Keep the purchase invoice, bill of lading or freight receipt, insurance policy and the original foreign registration document. Customs will ask for them to work out the customs value.
Step 2: Clear the car through Customs
Present the car and documents at the District Customs Office. For EU cars, you must prove EU status, for example with the previous registration document and number plates, and complete clearance within 10 working days of that check. Used cars from the EU also need a CO2 emissions certificate. New cars need an EU Certificate of Conformity.
Step 3: Insure the car in Cyprus
You need valid Cyprus motor insurance before the car can be driven or registered. See our guide to car insurance in Cyprus for expats.
Step 4: Register with the Road Transport Department
After customs clearance, register the car with the RTD. The RTD checks the vehicle and its documents before issuing a registration certificate and Cypriot number plates. A registration fee applies; check the current amount with the RTD.
Step 5: Pay road tax
Once registered, the car needs a circulation licence (road tax) before it can be used. Our step-by-step road tax guide explains how.
How long does it take?
Shipping is usually the slowest part. Customs clearance and RTD registration can take from a few days to a few weeks, depending on whether your paperwork is complete and whether the car needs further checks.
Common problems
- Missing proof of ownership or use. Without evidence that you used the car for six months, relief can be refused.
- Car counted as new. A nearly new car bought in another EU country can trigger 19% VAT.
- Registration refused. Some non-EU vehicles cannot be registered, so check with the RTD first.
- Selling too soon. Selling a relief car within 12 months makes duty and VAT payable.
What to do next
Get a quote for shipping, check your eligibility for relief with Customs, and confirm with the RTD that your car can be registered. Once it is on the road, keep up with its roadworthiness test and road tax.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to import a car from the UK to Cyprus?
As of 2026, passenger cars from outside the EU pay 10% import duty on the customs value (price plus shipping and insurance), then 19% VAT on that value plus duty. Transfer-of-residence relief can remove both if you qualify, and registration fees are extra.
Is there import duty on a car from another EU country?
No customs duty applies if you can prove the car is in free circulation in the EU, for example with its previous EU registration document and plates. VAT is due only if the car counts as new.
What counts as a new car for VAT?
A car is treated as new if it is six months old or less since first registration, or has travelled 6,000 km or less. New cars from other EU countries pay 19% Cyprus VAT.
Can I sell my car after importing it with relief?
Not straight away. Under transfer-of-residence relief from outside the EU, you cannot sell, lend, hire out or transfer the car for 12 months without Customs approval, or the duty and VAT become payable.
Can I bring a car into Cyprus through the north?
No. A vehicle cannot be imported into the Republic of Cyprus through the northern part of the island, and the authorities may seize one that is.
